URGENT UPDATE

Space Lectures has been bringing inspirational astronaut speakers to the UK for more than ten years now: Jim Lovell, Ken Mattingly and Charlie Duke to name but three. Ken and his team are already looking to next year with a number of names “in the frame”.

But we are sorry to have to inform you that this year’s event due to be held on Friday/Saturday 12th/13th October has been cancelled.

While in the US, Dr Rhea Seddon and Hoot Gibson are in high demand, inexplicably ticket sales for the event in October have been poor. So following consultation with our astronaut guests the decision was reluctantly made, and with a heavy heart to cancel.

As one of the team remarked, “We have missed an unbelievable opportunity”

The mechanics of these events require significant payments in advance, and while ticket sales would in all likelihood have increased as the event drew ever closer the financial exposure for both parties was simply too high.

Therefore, on behalf of Ken and the team, we would like to apologise for the disappointment, especially to those who may have made travel and accommodation plans… but circumstances have conspired against us. Ken will begin sending refunds in the next few days.

A huge thank you to everybody for supporting our events: we have had disappointments in the past but have always bounced back and so it will be again. The wheels are in motion already for 2019 and all being well Space Lectures will soon announce an Astronaut speaker for the spring so watch this space.

#OTD John Glenn was strapped inside the spacecraft he named Friendship 7 which lifted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Launch Complex 14. During the four-hour, 55-minute flight he became the first American to orbit Earth.